Report upholds four allegations against Doyle, including breast grab

By Clay Lucas & Miki Perkins

An investigation into former lord mayor Robert Doyle has upheld four allegations of misconduct against him – including that he grasped the breast of former councillor Tessa Sullivan.

And the independent probe launched by Melbourne City Council into Mr Doyle’s behaviour found that on each occasion of sexually inappropriate conduct he had ‘‘consumed substantial amounts of red wine’’.

Former lord mayor Robert Doyle.Credit:Simon O'Dwyer

The investigation's findings bring to an end Mr Doyle’s career in Victorian politics, which spans three decades and saw him rise to become leader of the Liberal Party and state opposition from 2002 to 2006.

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He was lord mayor of Melbourne for nine years, until his resignation in February.

The investigation document tabled at a council meeting on Tuesday also found that Mr Doyle:

Repeatedly placed his hand on fellow councillor Cathy Oke’s inner thigh ‘‘below her groin area’’ at a meeting in 2014, at the Italian bistro Lupino.

On another occasion, embraced Cr Oke and tried to kiss her on the mouth, ‘‘causing her to push him away’’ and leave his office

Investigators did not find against Mr Doyle on a number of other accusations made by Ms Sullivan, a 34-year-old lawyer from Toorak who resigned as a councillor in December.

These accusations did not meet the standard of proof required by investigators, which sat between the ‘‘balance of probabilities and reasonable doubt’’. A failure to find something proven to this standard did not mean it did not happen, investigators said in their report.

Former councillor Tessa Sullivan.Credit:Jason South

Ms Sullivan, who served just 14 months of her four-year term on the council, said in a statement posted on social media on Tuesday that she was "relieved the truth is out".

Mr Doyle remains in hospital, where he has been since February due to stress.

His wife, Emma Page-Campbell, responding on her husband's behalf, said he "continues to deny all allegations made against him".

She added that the 64-year-old Mr Doyle "now recognises that his cheerful and oftentimes animated personality and manner towards people, both men and women alike, may no longer be appropriate by today's standards".

Melbourne City Council chief executive Ben Rimmer released a statement that indicated that if Mr Doyle had not resigned as lord mayor, it would have been necessary "to consider what further action to take’’.

Greens councillor Cathy Oke told the special meeting of council that more support was needed for women in politics who spoke out when something was wrong.

‘‘Women don’t speak out because we fear that if the wrong person is unwittingly spoken to it could mean a leak, a breach of confidentiality, a breach of trust, and ultimately information in the hands of their accused and their powerful networks,’’ she said.

She said she felt ‘‘ashamed’’ she had not spoken out about Mr Doyle’s behaviour earlier.

"I had a real fear that speaking to someone in the powerful connected networks in this city, on this matter, would lead to a media smear or attack on my reputation. Although perhaps ridiculous to some, that fear was real and paralysing," a tearful Cr Oke told the council meeting.

Cr Oke said she wanted her daughter to ‘‘grow up in the post #MeToo era, where speaking out doesn’t cause so much pain’’.

The 100-page report completed by Dr Freckelton and his team will not be released in full – only a nine-page statement from Mr Rimmer summarising it. The investigation is understood to have cost in the region of $1 million.

Among the allegations investigators explored was that Mr Doyle had clutched the upper thigh of Cr Oke during a job interview with one of the two final candidates for chief executive in 2014.

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Mr Doyle’s alleged grope was seen by then councillor Stephen Mayne, who was also interviewed by Dr Freckelton.

The report found ‘‘investigators did not accept the argument advanced by Mr Doyle in respect of [this incident] that his touching of Cr Oke was a signal to her that he was impressed by a candidate for a job’’.

The report noted that Mr Doyle had ‘‘stated clearly throughout the investigation that he either did not engage in the acts constituted by the allegations or that his conduct in engaging in them was not sexually inappropriate’’.

The report also found that the Melbourne City Council workplace was at times "sexualised ... by the conduct of Mr Doyle".

This was particularly the case at Tuesday night dinners after council meetings, where liquor was served. Mr Doyle would often consume large amounts of wine at these dinners.

Dr Freckelton found that, because Mr Doyle's proven misconduct was combined with drinking, "consumption of alcohol at Melbourne City Council on a Tuesday evening ought to be the subject of policy revision".

Mr Doyle's wife, Ms Page-Campbell, said her husband "continues to deny all allegations made against him".

She said he “fervently rejects that any [alleged] conduct was intended to be inappropriate or sexual in nature".

She said her husband remained in hospital on medical advice, and that the investigation continued to have a "significant detrimental effect" on him.

“Robert appropriately stood down from his position as lord mayor," Ms Page-Campbell said, "and for the most part has refrained from commenting publicly or privately in spite of the unrelenting attacks on his character. This has not stopped others from prosecuting Robert through the media."

She said Melbourne City Council had been "well served by Robert over the last nine years as lord mayor and his departure and these findings, which we do not accept, should not diminish his record of public service. He intends to return to good health in time, move on from this period and find ways to continue to serve the community of Melbourne. He continues to have my unbridled love and support”.